1. Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) – The Buckeyes let Indiana hang around for a bit this week but in the end overwhelmed the Hoosiers thanks to 455 yards passing and six touchdown passes from QB Dwayne Haskins. It seems smooth sailing from here for the Buckeyes. Unless Michigan State suddenly starts to block people, OSU might not get challenged again until the season finale at home against Michigan. Last week: 1. Jay LaPrete, AP

2. Penn State (4-1, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions had the week off to try and regroup after last week’s tough loss to Ohio State. They’ll get Michigan State at home next week, a game that is starting to look like an easy one with the way the Spartans are playing. They’ll try to keep the heat on OSU in the East, but games against Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin remain. Last week: 2. Chris Knight, AP

3. Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0) – The Badgers came off their bye week by handing Nebraska yet another loss. It was nothing spectacular, which is par for the course for Wisconsin. Things get ramped up next week as the Badgers head to Michigan for the game of the week in the Big Ten, a matchup that could provide a clear path to a division title or create some suspense in the West. Last week: 3. Morry Gash, AP

4. Michigan (5-1, 3-0) – The Wolverines brushed aside any talk of upsets by physically controlling Maryland at home as QB Shea Patterson threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Wolverines host Wisconsin next week, which offers them a chance to prove they’re the real deal as they begin the toughest stretch of the season with Michigan State and Penn State up next. Last week: 4. David Guralnick, Detroit News

5. Iowa (4-1, 1-1) – Two turnovers didn’t bother QB Nate Stanley, who threw for four touchdowns in a victory over Minnesota as the Hawkeyes created four turnovers of their own. It was a quality bounce-back after the loss two weeks ago to Wisconsin as the Hawkeyes hope to keep the heat on the Badgers in the race for the West. Last week: 5. Stacy Bengs, AP

6. Northwestern (2-3, 2-1) – In a classic case of the record not revealing a team’s true character, the Wildcats won for the third straight time on the road against Michigan State this week, proving last week’s loss to Michigan, when it blew a 17-0 lead, wouldn’t linger. The key for the Wildcats is building off the win and remaining in the hunt in the Big Ten West. Last week: 11. Dale G. Young, Detroit News

7. Michigan State (3-2, 1-1) – The Spartans simply can’t beat Northwestern at home, and much of the reason this time is because their offensive line continues to be overmatched. Quick fixes likely aren’t coming as the injuries have piled up for a team that expected to compete for a title but now finds itself on the brink with Penn State and Michigan up next. Last week: 6. Dale G. Young, Detroit News

8. Purdue (2-3, 1-1) – The Boilermakers had the week off after beating Nebraska last week for their second straight win. They’ll have a good chance to make it three in a row next week with a trip to Illinois before a visit from Ohio State offers a chance for a monumental upset. Last week: 9. Nati Harnik, AP

9. Indiana (4-2, 1-2) – The Hoosiers were game as they headed into the Horseshoe to take on Ohio State. But in the end, they simply didn’t have the firepower to hang with one of the best teams in the nation. The tough road for the pesky Hoosiers continues next week against Iowa followed by Penn State. The silver lining is both games are at home. Last week: 8. Jay LaPrete, AP

10. Maryland (3-2, 1-1) – The Terrapins entered this week’s game with Michigan with some expecting them to put a scare into the home team. However, the Terps were never truly in the game, managing just 220 total yards. There’s a good chance they rebound quickly, though, as Rutgers comes to town. Last week: 7. David Guralnick, Detroit News

11. Illinois (3-2, 1-1) – The Fighting Illini ended a two-game skid by virtue of Rutgers being the next team up on the schedule. It provided a glimmer of hope as the Illini fight to become bowl-eligible under Lovie Smith. Three more wins and they’ll be there, though there aren’t any real sure things left on the schedule. Last week: 12. David Boe, AP

12. Minnesota (3-2, 0-2) – The perfect non-conference run is long gone for the Golden Gophers, who are showing they’re not able to stop anyone in Big Ten play. The Gophers threw four interceptions and gave up five sacks in a loss to Iowa and won’t get a break next week as they head to Ohio State, the top scoring offense in the conference. Last week: 10. Stacy Bengs, AP

13. Nebraska (0-5, 0-3) – The Cornhuskers still are looking for that first victory under coach Scott Frost after losing at Wisconsin. Getting a win in Madison wasn’t terribly likely for the rebuilding Huskers, but it won’t get much easier next week at surging Northwestern. Minnesota is next but Bethune-Cookman is waiting in a few weeks, so all hope is not lost. Last week: 13. Morry Gash, AP

14. Rutgers (1-5, 0-3) – Somehow, the Scarlet Knights won a game this season. Of course, that came against Texas State back in the opener. Since then, Rutgers has been getting beaten badly on a weekly basis, save for a seven-point loss to Indiana. Where a Big Ten win comes this season is hard to see, something that has coach Chris Ash on the hot seat. Last week: 14. David Boe, AP

“Jake, in all general purposes is, I believe, done for the year,” Dantonio said. “To throw your right leg up in air when it’s been broken is probably a little bit of an issue, from a confidence standpoint.”

That doesn’t mean Hartbarger’s career at Michigan State is necessarily over. Dantonio said they intend to explore Hartbarger being granted a medical redshirt, which would make him eligible next season.

“We can get a medical redshirt on him for him to be able to punt next year,” Dantonio said. “That’s the intent right now. Unless something drastically changes, that’s the intent. He knows that and I’ve talked to his family about it.”

A Ray Guy Award candidate entering the season, Hartbarger is just the third starting punter in the Dantonio era, following Aaron Bates and Mike Sadler. He ranked in the top 10 in program history in yards per punt, punting yards and total punts while recording 38 punts of 50 yards or more.

Seventy-one of his 186 career punts were downed inside the 20-yard line with 37 of those being downed inside the 10.

Before getting hurt in the fourth quarter at Arizona State, Hartbarger had a 74-yard punt that was downed at the ASU 6. That kick is the second-longest in the FBS this season.

Against Indiana, redshirt freshman Tyler Hunt and walk-on Bryce Baringer both kicked. Hunt has handled the kicking the past two games and is averaging 38.9 yards on 15 punts this season with a long of 63 yards last week against Northwestern.

O-line shuffle

Michigan State’s poor play on the offensive line has been a big part of the offense’s problem this season, but at least some of the reason is the overall health of the unit.

Junior left tackle Cole Chewins has been limited all season while guards David Beedle and Kevin Jarvis are both out — Beedle, a fifth-year senior, for at least a month with an arm injury and Jarvis questionable with an ankle issue that has forced the sophomore to miss the last two games. Sophomore guard/tackle Luke Campbell also has been banged up and now finds himself as a backup.

It’s led to plenty of shuffling, which was on display again with this week’s depth chart. Chewins is listed as the lone starter now at left tackle, a spot that has been manned at times by Campbell and junior Tyler Higby. With Beedle out, Higby now moves to left guard, a spot he’s started 13 times in past seasons. He’s backed up there by redshirt freshman Matt Carrick, who saw his first extensive playing time last week.

At right guard, Jarvis is listed as the co-starter with redshirt freshman and former walk-on Blake Bueter, who got his first start last week.

The only constants remain sophomore Jordan Reid at right tackle and sophomore Matt Allen at center. Reid has started all five games, while Allen has solidified his spot after Higby started the first two games at center.

“Got to protect the quarterback and find a way to run the football, there's no question about that,” Dantonio said. “So on it goes.”

MSU on mend

The injuries have not been limited to the offensive line as the Spartans are without sophomore wide receiver Cody White (hand) and senior running back LJ Scott (ankle). Freshman receiver Jalen Nailor also has been limited, and sophomore cornerback Josiah Scott (knee) hasn’t played this season.

Dantonio was asked if this is as bad as it’s been in his 12 seasons.

“I look at the year in its totality at the end of the year,” Dantonio said. “I imagine this is as many early injuries as we've had in those times, but at the end of the year, how did we come out?

“We really have not had that many season-ending injuries. … So we're getting guys back, and we'll get them back. You have just got to deal with it.”